Cultivator.



No. 846,876. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

H. M. TOEPFER.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.7.1 906.

amen/tor J1: Mm, w .yz, x6401 V Z44 flcmmg HENRY M. TOEPFER, OF MOUNTCARROLL, ILLINOIS.

CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed September 7, 1906. Serial No. 333,713.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY M. TOEPFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Carroll, in the county of Carroll and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCultivators, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in cultivators or plows,pertaining more particularly to the devices which are used as shields orguards in positions adjacent to the hoes or shares and serving toprevent clods, stones, and the like from falling upon plants duringcultivation.

The objects aimed at and the means for attaining the desired resultswill be readily understood from the description below, taken inconnection with the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan View showing a guard or fender for a cultivator orplow embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a face view or elevation ofthe same.

In the drawings the fender-blade or guard is indicated as an entirety by1, it being formed of sheet metal and preferably in substantially theform indicated. It has a top straight edge 3, a front curved orrunnershaped edge 4, and a straight bottom edge 5, extending part wayback from the front end, and at 6 is cut away at the rear corner for apurpose to be explained.

The blade or body part of the fender is rigidly secured by rivets at 7to the supporting-bar 2. The latter extends upward and forward and isadapted to be fastened either adjustably or in one fixed position bymeans of bolts at 11. The guard or fenderblade 1 is bent or curvedaround axial lines transverse to the longitudinal, the curvature beingin horizontal planes when it is looked at from above. This gives it aconcavoconvex conformation. This curvature insures that the clods,stones, and bodies other than the more finely-reduced soil shall beguided or thrown to positions away from the plants as the implementtravels forward. At the same time it is desirable to have the smallerparticles of earth settle back somewhat toward the line of the plants.

By making the fender or blade of sheet metal it can be light and at thesame time be rapidly and cheaply manufactured; but if made of thin lightmaterial, in order to secure the several advantages incident thereto, itrequires supplemental means to insure that it shall maintain theconformation initially given to it. This is done by means of one or morebrace rods or bars 8, which are so arranged as to prevent the metal fromstraightening out. It is attached to the curved blade at 10, and at 9 ispreferably attached to the stiffer carrier-bar 2, though it will serveits purpose largely if this end 9 is secured to the forward part of thesheet metal. I so arrange the rod in respect to its vertical that itshall fulfil another functionthat is to say, arrange it so that it willserve as a stop or upper guide for the clods and earth. It is near thetop edge of the fender or guard 1, and the materials that tend to riseor be thrown upward because of the rapid forward motion of the implementimpinge upon this bar, which acts as a stop and checks the material andturns it properly downward.

The passage-way at 6 on the rear bottom corner of the fender, formed, asabove described, by cutting out part of the sheet metal, allows thefiner earth to roll or settle back toward the plants and insures thatthey shall have sufiicient soil for holding or supporting them, as wellas nourishing them.

What I claim is- 1. A fender or guard for cultivator shovels or plows,consisting of the sheet-metal plate curved horizontally and having thebracerod arranged substantially as set forth to retain the curvature ofthe fender-plate.

2. A fender or guard for cultivator shovels or plows formed of aconcavo-convex sheetmetal plate curved horizontally and having at itsupper edge and on the concave side thereof a device serving as a stopagainst the upward travel of earth, substantially as set forth.

3. A fender or guard for cultivator shovels or plows, having the curvedsheet-metal plate'l formed with a passage-way 6 at the rear bottomcorner thereof in combination curved plate and rigidly connected to theIO with the rod 8 supported on the concave side i supporting-bar,substantially as set forth. of the guard and providing a rigid holderfor i In testimony whereof I aflix my signature the outer end of thecurved plate, substanin presence of two witnesses. tially as set forth.

4. A fender or guard for cultivator shovels i HENRY TOEPFER' or plowshaving the curved sheet-metal plate Witnesses: 1, the supporting-bar 2and the brace-rod 8 G. H. POPE,

rigidly connected to the outer part of the l S. D. POOLE.

